Local congressmen stuck to party lines Friday as a package of trade bills stalled despite an 11th-hour plea from President Barack Obama.

Obama made his final pitch to reluctant House Democrats in a closed-door meeting Friday morning. He's faced obstacles convincing members of his own party to back provisions that would allow pending trade agreements to be approved more swiftly.

Labor groups have opposed those deals, arguing that they have caused U.S. jobs to be transferred overseas to countries with lower wages and fewer regulations.

Democrat Matt Cartwright, whose 17th District includes Easton and parts of Northampton County, was in Friday's caucus meeting with the president. But when it came time to vote, Cartwright remained opposed to the trade provisions.

Local Republicans voted in support of the trade legislation, which, in addition to speeding up approval of international agreements, would aim to assist workers displaced by those pacts. Those casting "aye" votes were Reps. Charlie Dent, 15th District; Michael Fitzpatrick, 8th District; Lou Barletta, 11th District; and Ryan Costello, 6th District.

"The ability to access markets is crucial to our nation’s continued economic prosperity, strategic interests and to the advancement of our founding principle of freedom," Dent said in a statement.

While the so-called "fast-track" portion did clear the House, the provisions on worker assistance did not. Both must be approved in order to go to the president's desk.

Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, who also has opposed the trade measures, praised the House votes as "a victory for workers and wages."

"Bad trade deals have a direct and substantial impact on wages," Casey said in a statement. "It’s time to begin work on commonsense trade policies that protect workers, promote wage growth and strengthen the middle class."

But the effort isn't done: another push is expected next week to complete the president's trade agenda. In a statement after the vote, Obama urged approval from the House.

"These kinds of agreements make sure that the global economy’s rules aren’t written by countries like China; they’re written by the United States of America," Obama said. "And to stand in their way is to do nothing but preserve the long-term status quo for American workers, and make it even harder for them to succeed."